Cristian Demuro guides Ace Impact to victory. Pictures: Zuzanna Lupa
Chantilly: Qatar Olympic Committee President H E Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani crowned the winners of the 183rd edition of the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club at Chantilly, France, yesterday.
The Jean Claude Rouget-trained Ace Impact (Cracksman x Absolutly Me) remained unbeaten and continued his colossal line of improvement by taking the Qatar Racing and Equestrian Club (QREC)-sponsored Gr1 2,100m contest for 3YO Thoroughbreds for his owner, Ecurie Serge Stempniak.
Unbeaten in three starts prior to lining up for the €1,500,000 contest, Ace Impact floated into the weekend’s racing on the back of a success in the Listed Prix de Suresnes at Chantilly on May 4.
Ridden by Cristian Demuro, the three-year-old son of Cracksman offered his trainer Jean-Claude Rouget with his sixth success in the Qatar Prix du Jockey Club.
The bay colt represents an immense success story for his small-time breeder Waltraut Spanner.
Held up towards the midfield of a race dictated by the eventual runner up Big Rock (Rock Of Gibraltar), Ace Impact travelled well throughout and challenged wide in the home straight.
Proving resolute, the colt stayed on strongly to beat the Yeguada Centurion Sluowned and Christopher Head-trained Big Rock by three and a half lengths. The runner up was ridden by Aurelien Lemaitre. The Jaber Abdullah owned and Andreas Schutztrained Marhaba Al Sanafi (Muhaarar) took the third place as he was further two and a half lengths behind under Mickael Barzalona.
“We have always loved Ace Impact”, stated the winning trainer, Jean-Claude Rouget, after the race.
“He was originally trained in Pau, but then he came to Deauville with the intention of debuting in the Prix de Crèvecoeur. But, unfortunately, he was the only one not to have pushed a summer coat! Otherwise, I’ve never had a problem with him and he has come with time! He debuted at Cagnes-sur-Mer. This day he beat Axiome and really set a good impression. We always thought that he was very good and today he proved it,” he said.
Bred by Waltraut Spanner, Ace Impact is a brother to the Listed placed Alessandro (Australia), as well as the Listed placed Apollo Flight (Rock Of Gibraltar).
